Monday, September 29, 2008

Pear-a-phenilia

***WINNER PICKED 10/16 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, Barbara (non-blogger)!!!***

her comment... My favorite item is the Chloe bracelet. Thanks for the great contest!

I love handcrafted items but am easily overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stuff available on sites like Etsy. It's fun to peruse all of the goodies for sale but I have lost countless hours clicking through so-so shops looking for something specific. It's easy to get fed up. The Pear Project is an online boutique featuring artisan goods that have been pared down (pun totally intended!) to the best and the brightest. Brooke Fuller's mission is to incorporate artisan goods into everyday life. She founded The Pear Project to showcase her own artwork, like the Car in Blue manipulated Polaroid SX-70 print below, and that of other artisans.

My favorite items at The Pear Project are the letterpress coasters by Minneapolis artist Krista Stout. I don't really use coasters at home much but these would look fabulous framed or nestled in a shadowbox, too! The Drinking Girls set is especially great:

The Pear Project also has a great selection of handmade jewelry, all at very reasonable prices, ranging from $6 to $85. I really like the Fotini Designs pieces, which have a very classical style reminiscent of long-lost treasures. The Abbey necklace looks like it could have been snatched from the Little Mermaid's jewelry box…

Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win! Or, you may choose to check for your nickname at Prizey.Fetch, a site that compiles winners in one convenient place:

I have to say first that I think I like the clever name of this post! You never cease to make m laugh. This featured site has several items that I fell for right aay. I thin my fave is the Chandra Earrings. They are simple yet pretty and the perfect accessory for Fall.

My favorite item s the GreenLea bag in black and white. I also like the green bee bobby pins because they are so ladylike. I really like the the steampunk and celluliod necklace-it reminds me of the work of Judy Hubbard.

Just fell in love with that sweet little hedgehog on the coasters. Don't see hedgehogs much here in Pennsylvania but when I lived in Scotland even in the city where I lived in Glasgow you couldn't hardly enter a green space without encountering a hedgehog. They are quite friendly and unless threatened by a dog or a cat will not run when encountering a human. Little buggers are always open for a treat such as a piece of meat as they are carnivores. But they are nice people.

Christina - xristya@rock.com - I like the Classical Music pendant/necklace from The Pear Project. My 18-yr.-old niece Sarah just began studying music (sax and clarinet, primarily) at the university and she would wear this piece forever although I myself don't even read music (although I appreciate Rachmaninoff!) and wouldn't know if the notes meant something or not!